Killing of three Palestinians in a week shouldn't be business as usual

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://972mag.com/killing-of-three-palestinians-in-a-week-shouldnt-be-business-as-usual/109372/

If it had been Palestinians who killed three Israelis, we would be having a very different conversation about a ‘worrying escalation’ or ‘wave of violence.’

Israeli military forces shot and killed three Palestinians in the last week. All three killings took place during raids in the middle of the night to detain suspects in crimes we know nothing about, sometimes crimes the suspects know nothing about. Although it appears there was some level of resistance in the three attempted arrests, there is no evidence at all that any of the three were armed or posed a mortal threat when they were killed.

In the early hours of Monday morning, soldiers and police commandos entered the Qalandiya Refugee Camp looking for 18-year-old Muhammad Abu Latifa on suspicion of weapons trafficking, though some reports say simply, “terror activities.” According to the IDF, Latifa was shot in the leg while trying to escape to a nearby roof, from which he fell to his death. His family claims he was simply shot to death, and a report published on +972 on Monday shows evidence that challenges the IDF account.

Some reports in Israeli outlets, like Haaretz, didn’t even bother to speak to anyone from the family and only provided the IDF account. Ynet’s English site reported the story with an appalling headline that left many dumfounded: “Parkour in Palestine: Fleeing suspect falls to his death,” playing on the acrobatic sport that has become popular among young Palestinians, who use their bodies to jump on and between buildings and urban obstacles. It was the top story on their homepage for several hours before being changed. Ynet declined to comment when I approached them asking them what they were thinking.

[Maedhros]

1. You must understand: to Americans, there is "good" killing, and "bad" killing.

"Bad" killing involves the death of good people, like young blonde Americans.

"Good" killing involves the death of Muslims, who are all 'terrorists' anyway so who cares?

Random Palestinians, a half-dozen Yemenis here and there, your occasional Afghani or Pakistani, what's the problem? They're so foreign and far away.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. You forgot to add that they hate us fer are freedoms.

[Maedhros]

3. Well, duh! What other reason could there be?

America is a shining beacon on a hill, a paragon of righteousness in a wicked world. The people we kill should be thankful.